A FORMER soldier has finally won his battle to have 200,000 troops who served in the Suez Canal Zone Emergency awarded a special medal.

Tom Radford, from Tranmere, campaigned for 15 years so they could be honoured with the General Service Medal.

The 69-year-old, who served with the Cheshire regiment, has now been awarded his and the Ministry of Defence are working through 11,000 more applications.

Mr Radford's victory means all 200,000 servicemen and woman who took part in the conflict in Egypt are entitled to a medal.

He said: "It is a great victory for all of us and makes the years of hard work seem so worthwhile. I am so happy because a lot of men and women died for their country and we all put our lives on the line."

The Suez Canal Zone Emergency lasted from 1951 until 1954, and cost the lives of 54 British troops.

It began when Egyptian terrorists attacked soldiers who were protecting the canal, which was a vital route for oil transportation from the Middle East. As the conflict worsened the British government sent in thousands of troops.

Despite the length of the battle and the lives lost the Ministry of Defence did not award any medals.

But because of Mr Radford's campaign they decided to review the situation and finally agreed to the demand.

Prime minister Tony Blair made the historic announcement, which came after Mr Radford collected more than 20,000 names for a petition.

Mr Radford said: "I have been to London to campaign for the medals on several occasions and I refused to give up. The response for the petition was amazing and the signatures were from all over the world.

"The Ministry of Defence tried to turn us down, but in the end I think they had no choice and I am delighted with the result.

"There are so many people who deserve the medal and I just hope it makes them as happy as it has made me. A lot of old soldiers have been involved and we have showed that you should stand up for what you believe in."

Father-of-two Mr Radford worked for the council when he left the army and lives in Tranmere with his wife, Bernice.

Mrs Radford, 71, said: "The medal will take pride of place in our home. Tom has fought long and hard for this and I am just so glad things have turned out well."

The Ministry of Defence says it will get the medals out as quickly as possible and will co nti nue to tak e applications.

A spokesman for the government department said: "It is right that these people are now being given medals. We are working to make sure that everyone who deserves an award gets one."

Suez terror battle lasted four years

THE Suez Canal Zone Emergency was a bitter conflict which lasted four years and saw British troops face a daily battle against terrorism.

Soldiers went to Egypt after servicemen and women who were already in the area started coming under fire.

They were there to protect the Suez Canal and maintain it as a shipping route for oil from the Middle East.

As the battle wore on a total of 54 British troops died and more than 100 were injured.

Mr Radford said: "I remember one soldier from Liverpool being killed and I saw a lot of terrible things.

"Every day could easily have been our last as the terrorism just never stopped and you always had to be ready.

"We all pulled together and looked out for each other. We also believed in what we were doing.

"You never forget being involved in a battle and I still see a lot of the other soldiers from the regiment."

The Suez Canal Zone Emergency ended when a peace agreement was reached in 1954, but then in 1956 came the Suez Canal Crisis.